Centennial State News

Colorado Right to Life (CRTL) is a pro-life organization that opposes the state's current pro-abortion legislation and states that "there are no exceptions which would allow for the intentional killing of an innocent human life."

In 2021, 11,580 women had abortions in Colorado, an increase from 10,368 in 2020, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment, cited by Abort73. The Guttmacher Institute estimates that 17.9% of pregnancies in Colorado in 2020 ended in abortion. That figure does not include miscarriages.

Centennial State News recently interviewed a representative from CRTL for the organization's opinion on the state of current abortion legislation in Colorado. CRTL is a statewide organization that aims to protect the lives of mothers and babies by ending the practice of abortion, according to its website.

"Every human being has a God-given right to life from the beginning of that person’s biological development through natural death, regardless of their perceived value to society," CTRL Office Manager Donna Ballentine said.

When asked what resources the organization offered women experiencing crisis pregnancies, CRTL replied, "Colorado RTL understands there are no exceptions which would allow for the intentional killing of an innocent human life. We recognize that in some circumstances, the mother’s life and/or the baby’s life will be in danger. Under those circumstances, those responsible must make every legitimate effort to save the life of both mother and child."

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the Reproductive Health Equity Act into law in April, cementing the legality of abortion in Colorado. The new law asserts that Colorado women have a right to undergo an abortion, and that embryos and fetuses do not have any rights. The law prohibits state and local public entities from enacting any restrictions on abortions.

Polis issued a statement in June, calling the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade "alarming" and touted Colorado as an abortion haven.

"Because of my administration and Democratic leadership in the legislature, Coloradans don’t have to worry because our rights are still protected today despite the unfortunate reality that the U.S. Supreme Court just rolled those freedoms back for millions of Americans in other states," Polis said. "In Colorado, we will continue to choose freedom and we stand against government control over our bodies. State leadership matters now more than ever, and in Colorado we will not retreat to an archaic era where the powerful few controlled the freedoms over our bodies and health decisions."

"Career politicians and all others who refuse to recognize their duty to protect all human beings and apply the already-established laws against murder to every person, born and unborn, are willfully negligent and in dereliction of their duty," Ballentine said in response to Polis' approach to the issue of life and abortion. "They bear the culpability of murder. CRTL will not support or affirm any piece of legislation which falls short of God's enduring command, 'Do Not Murder The Innocent.'"

Right to Life is an organization dedicated to defending the lives of the unborn through education and legislation. There are more than 3,000 local RTL chapters in addition to 50 statewide affiliates and the national federation.